Abstract: A skateboard deck that is both stiff in one dimension and flexible in another dimension is disclosed. The deck includes an elongated body characterized by a longitudinal axis, a plurality of ribs, and a plurality of apertures. The plurality of ribs are long, narrow beams oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and integral with the bottom of the elongated body. The plurality of apertures are distributed in a plurality of rows also oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The ribs and rows of apertures are interposed in an alternating pattern across the width of the deck. The resulting deck is stiff in the longitudinal direction yet flexible with respect to rotation about the longitudinal axis. The deck is therefore flexible enough to enable the front and rear trucks to rotate with respect to one another while still being rigid enough to withstand the weight of the rider.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of magnetic read/write heads, a system controller and a switching network. Each of the magnetic read/write heads includes a read sensor element configured to perform a read operation and a write element configured to perform a write operation. The switching network is coupled between the plurality of magnetic read/write heads and the controller. Further, the switching network is configured to substantially simultaneously select elements from at least two of the plurality of magnetic read/write heads in response to a command from the controller such that the operations of the selected elements are performed substantially simultaneously to establish a manufacturing parameter of a disk drive.

Abstract: Power is routed from one or more power supplies. As consistent with one or more example embodiments, a data storage device senses and/or is informed of the availability and voltage level of one or more power supplies. Based upon the availability and voltage level of power supplies, circuits in the memory device are powered using one or more of the sensed power supplies. In some applications, the power is drawn in a manner that emulates the behavior of one or more circuits that are respectively powered.

Abstract: Power is routed from one or more power supplies. As consistent with one or more example embodiments, a data storage device senses and/or is informed of the availability and voltage level of one or more power supplies. Based upon the availability and voltage level of power supplies, circuits in the memory device are powered using one or more of the sensed power supplies. In some applications, the power is drawn in a manner that emulates the behavior of one or more circuits that are respectively powered.